AB de Villiers, also known as ABD, is a South African batsman who is known for his 360-degree style of play. Since his debut in 2004, the Pretorian has soared to new heights thanks to his undeniable raw talent and a dizzying array of shots that have perplexed fans over the years.
AB de Villiers is a phenomenon that has totally transformed the way batsmen, wicketkeepers, and fielders approach their careers. He has revolutionised the cricketing world with his superhuman abilities.ABD’s career cannot be summed up in a paragraph at the very least, from the legendary paddle sweeps to hopping on the fence to catch one-hand stunners. He is one of the few batsmen in cricket’s history whose presence transcended borders and was loved equally by everyone.
Records
- ODI century in 31 balls vs WI
- ODI fastest 150- 64 balls vs WI
- In ODI-16 balls vs WI, fastest fifty
- 229 runs in T20 partnership with Virat Kohli
Awards
- 2010 ICC One-Day International Player of the Year
- 2014 ICC One-Day International Player of the Year
- 2015 ICC One-Day International Player of the Year
Career
Domestic Career
Since 2003, AB de Villiers has been a member of the Northerns in the South African First Class. Since 2004, he has been a part of the Titans Multiply in the Sunfoil Series, Momentum One Day Cup, and Ram Slam T20 Challenge.
Before being selected for the rigours of international Test matches, de Villiers has previously played 16 first-class matches.
IPL Career
He spent the first three seasons of the IPL with the Delhi Daredevils. In 2011, he joined the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) as a player. Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, ABD will once again wear the RCB jersey in the 13th edition of the IPL, which will be held in Dubai this year.
He has 4395 runs at an average of 39.95 and a strike rate of 151.23 in 154 IPL matches. There are 33 half-centuries and three centuries in all. In 2015, he scored an undefeated 133 runs against the Mumbai Indians.
International Career
AB de Villiers was recruited into the major league to play Test cricket after impressing the selectors during his brief tenure in first-class cricket. At the age of 20, AB de Villiers made his Test debut alongside Dale Steyn against England on December 17, 2004.
ABD made an immediate impression on the cricketing world when he batted a well-crafted 52-run inning in his fourth Test innings, saving South Africa from an impending loss. He also scored his first Test century in the series, a fluent 109 in Centurion, where he grew up. ABD had shown that he belonged at this stage in only one sequence.
After a short slump in 2006 and 2007, de Villiers resurfaced in early 2008 with a blistering 103 not out off 109 balls against the West Indies in Durban.
De Villiers scored a match-winning century in the first Test in Perth, helping South Africa chase down the second-highest-ever fourth-innings target of 414 with six wickets in hand. After more than a decade of Australian domination, this was South Africa’s first Test win in Australia in 15 years, and it seemed to go a long way toward tipping the balance of influence in world cricket.
AB de Villiers is known for his defensive style of cricket when the situation calls for it, in addition to his normal offensive style.
When South Africa was failing to save the Adelaide Test against Australia during the 2012-13 tour to Australia, de Villiers defied his natural impulses and batted his way to a 220-ball 33 in one of the most thrilling draws in history.
On February 2, 2005, AB made his ODI debut against England in Bloemfontein. In their 50 overs, England batted first and scored 270/5. South Africa scored 270 runs for the loss of eight wickets, tying the game. AB had a total of 20 points from 56 balls.
In the World Cup Super 8 game against West Indies on 10 April 2007, ABD scored his first ODI century, 146 from just 130 balls, including 5 sixes and 12 fours.
His success in the 2015 World Cup single-handedly propelled South Africa to the quadrennial tournament’s final. ABD had the fastest ODI 150 against West Indies in 64 deliveries on his way to the semi-finals.
AB’s contributions in the limited-overs game are more qualitative than measurable, making him the voice of modern-day cricket creativity.
On February 24, 2006, at the Wanderers Stadium, he made his T20 debut against Australia. De Villiers was not out after facing just three balls for no runs.
De Villiers made the fastest T20I fifty by a South African in just 21 balls against England on February 21, 2016. He finished his innings with 79 runs in 29 deliveries, leading South Africa to a 3-0 T20I series victory.
De Villiers was reported to be in negotiations to return to the South African T20I team for the 2020 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in January 2020. The rumours were confirmed by de Villiers himself, but with COVID-19 delaying the World Cup by a year, fans are waiting with baited breath for AB de Villiers to return.
Family
AB de Villiers and Daniella de Villiers are happily married. Abraham de Villiers (born in 2015) and John Richard de Villiers are their two sons (born in 2017). After 5 years of dating, De Villiers proposed to Daniella at the Taj Mahal in 2012. He’s a gifted musician and singer as well. In 2010, he released Maak Jou Drome Waar, a bilingual pop album with his friend and South African singer Ampie du Preez.
AB declared his retirement from all aspects of international cricket in a surprise move after the Australian cricket team toured South Africa in April 2018.